NFL Weekly Preview Week 8 2025: Key Injuries, Difference Makers & Projected Upsets

Lamar Jackson (Darron Cummings, Google Images)

We begin the eighth week of the 2025 NFL regular season on Thursday. Here are the key injuries, fantasy stars and projected upsets.

Key Injuries

Among the players not playing week eight are Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (high ankle sprain), Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (hamstring),  Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder), and Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (broken collarbone). As a result of the quarterback injuries, 37-year-old Andy Dalton will get the start in Carolina, and Marcus Mariota will get the start for Washington.

Fantasy Stars

The top rated quarterback of the week is Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens. He is projected to get 221 passing yards, 48 rushing yards and two touchdowns on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. The top rated wide receiver of the week is Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals. On Sunday against the New York Jets, with Joe Flacco as his quarterback, Chase is expected to get eight catches for 92 receiving yards and one touchdown. The top rated running back of the week is Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts, the best team in the entire NFL. Taylor is projected to get 116 total yards and one touchdown against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Projected Upsets

There are two underdogs I like this week. They are the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers. The 49ers do have injury issues heading into their game against the Houston Texans, but have running back Christian McCaffrey playing some of the best football of his career. Meanwhile, I like the Steelers’s ability to regroup Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers.  Aaron Rodgers will be playing against his old team.